Continuing education requirements in order to maintain a registration in New Mexico have been in effect since 2000. As a refresher, here are answers to the most often asked questions:

• What is the time frame in which I have to accumulate my credit hours, and how do I keep track of what I've done?
• You have had a two-year period to acquire your credit hours, beginning on January 1, 2006 and ending on December 31, 2007. In addition, if you accumulated more than 24 hours in the last renewal cycle, you were eligible to carry-over a maximum of 8 of these additional hours to be credited during this cycle. You received a reporting form for 2006-07 with your registration. The form was also included in the renewal packet just mailed to you. The form is also available on the website.
• If I have an AIA transcript, do I need to rewrite everything on the continuing education form?
• If you have an AIA transcript, attach a copy of it to the NM continuing education form and write "See Attached" on the NM form. Remember, you must sign the affidavit on the NM form.
• What is a contact hour, and how many do I need to accumulate?
• A contact hour is 50 minutes of contact, which may be acquired through a wide variety of activities. The activities are listed under Rule 16 NMAC 30.3.11.B.(2). You need to accumulate 24 contact hours in a 24 month renewal period. At least 16 of these hours must be related to public protection subjects, safeguarding life, health, property and promoting public welfare. If you earn additional hours during the 24 month renewal period, you can carry over a maximum of 8 hours to the next renewal cycle.
• Does the board pre-approve courses?
• Neither the Board nor the staff pre-approves courses. The activities listed under Rule 16 NMAC 30.3.1.1.2 provide a guide for you to determine if the specific activity you are considering qualifies.
• I live in a remote area and would find it burdensome to have to travel to larger cities to obtain college or seminar credits. Is there another way for me to acquire my contact hours?
• There are many options available through distance learning for those who do not have access to in-person contact. Self-study courses offered by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards and the American Institute of Architects are examples of this option.
• Do I submit all my records and documentation of the activities I completed when I renew my license in the fall of 2007?
• No! The only thing you turn in with your license renewal is the continuing education form. The Board will be conducting a random audit of registrants regarding continuing education. If you are audited you will be required to submit proof of completion of the activities you listed on your form. So you do need to keep all receipts and proof of attendance in the event you are audited.
• Can I submit the renewal form and check if I haven't completed all my continuing education hours?
• No! Your renewal will be processed ONLY if you have submitted the continuing education form and have recorded the required number of hours. Remember,all fees are non-refundable and late renewals mean late fees.
• Are exemptions granted?
• Exemptions are listed under 16.30.3.11 B (8) NMAC
• Does the Board consider hardship cases?
• Under 16.30.3.11 B (10) NMAC, the Board can consider a hardship case. During the last renewal cycle, the board considered a few medical hardship cases. These registrants were asked to provide a letter of explanation and a letter from the physician.

*** Please remember, you are responsible for familiarizing yourself with the entire rule pertaining to continuing education. Rule 16 NMAC 30.3.11.B(2) provides definitions of the accepted activities, records and record keeping, and all other facts relating to this requirement, including the results of non-compliance.

For a complete description see Rules: 16 NMAC 30.3.1.1.2

• A contact hour is 50 minutes of contact with an instructor or course. Most distance learning courses, such as monographs from NCARB, give the course a value in terms of contact hours. It will state that this course is worth 7 contact hours. Instructor-taught courses will run a certain amount of time and, therefore, it should be easy for the registrant to figure out the contact hours.
• A registrant can earn a maximum of 8 contact hours biennially under General Subject hours for professional service to the public [Rules: 16 NMAC 30.3.11.1.2 D7] only when that service is voluntary. For instance, if a registrant is also acting as a building inspector in his jurisdiction, and being paid to do so, he cannot use this time for continuing education credits.
• A registrant may earn up to 8 contact hours biennially under General Subjects for serving as a mentor for the Intern Development Program (IDP) or the ARE study sessions. An alternative to this would be serving as a mentor for a student/intern architectural project that benefits the general public.
• The N.M. Board of Examiners for Architects will conduct random audits of its registrants to verify authenticity of reported continuing education credit hours. The random audits will be conducted on an undetermined percentage of registrants.
• When audited, a registrant shall send copies of original receipts and other authentication for all courses claimed on the continuing education form.
• Registrants are encouraged to send their comments on courses taken (positive and negative) to the Board office.
• A maximum of 8 hours may be carried over from one renewal cycle to another, as long as the registrant earned more than the required 24 CE hours.
• If another jurisdiction accepts the N.M. Continuing Education Requirements as credit in their state, New Mexico will accept that jurisdictions CE requirements.
• The continuing ed form must be returned with the renewal (due December 31, 2007). The form only is returned. No documentation is required at that time; that will be requested if the person is audited.

(Please refer to 16 NMAC 30.3.1.1.2 )

The NMBEA on-line course is free and available. You can accumulate 5 h/s/w contact hours by completing all scenarios. For various fees, other on-line vendors have courses that can be accessed quickly . Have you done any pro bono work in the last two years? A maximum of 8 hours can be accumulated under General Subjects only for pro bono work for non-profits or ARE/IDP mentoring. [See (h)] General Subject credit hours are also available for service in an architectural capacity to the public or profession on boards and commissions. Still counting? Did you attend an office luncheon meeting on architectural materials and uses presented by a manufacturers representative. [See (b) or (c)]

"Architect Emeritus " is a category established by board rule for those who have retired from the practice of architecture, are 60 years of age or older, and have had ten years of continuous practice, five of which have been as a registered architect in New Mexico. Architects Emeritus are exempt from continuing education requirements.

• To authenticate community service credit hours the following is needed:
  1. Correspondence from the non-profit entity, on its letterhead, which gives its specific non-profit status.
  2. In this same letter the non-profit should state what the architectural nature of the work performed consisted of.
  3. The letter should also state how many hours the registrant donated to the non-profit for the architectural project involved.
  4. A maximum of 8 credit hours can be granted for this kind of work.
• To authenticate contact hours for professional service to a board, commission or committees the following is needed:
  1. Correspondence from the entity, on its letterhead, which states what specific purpose this board or commission is mandated to address.
  2. This letter should also state how the registrant's architectural expertise served the purpose of the board or commission.
  3. This letter should also state approximately how many credit hours the registrant spent in participation with the board or commission.

By rule, 16.30.3.11 (2) (b) NMAC, “Health, safety and welfare in architecture” is anything that relates to the structure or soundness of a building or site or its role in promoting the health, safety or well being of its occupants.

At its February 2, 2001 Board meeting, the New Mexico Board of Examiners for Architects voted to allow the AIA definitions for Health, Safety, & Welfare to serve as examples to clarify appropriate subject matter in the determination of the Board's continuing education health, safety, and welfare requirements.

Health, Safety, and Welfare in architecture is anything that relates to the structure or soundness of a building or site.

Examples:

1. Health: Aspects of architecture that have salutary effects among users of buildings or sites and address environmental issues. Examples would be appropriate air temperature, humidity, and quality; adequate provisions for personal hygiene; and nontoxic materials or finishes.
2. Safety: Aspects of architecture intended to limit or prevent accidental injury or death among users of buildings or sites. Examples would be the provision of fire-rated egress enclosures, automatic sprinkler systems, and stairs with correct rise-to-run proportions.
3. Welfare: Aspects of architecture that engender positive emotional responses among, or enable equal access by, users of building or sites. Examples would be spaces whose scale, proportions, materials, and color are pleasing for the intended use; spaces that afford natural light and views of nature; and provisions for users with disabilities.

The NMBEA web site now features a continuing education course on the Architectural Act and Board rules and regulations. The course consists of 5 scenarios. Each scenario is worth 1 contact hour as a health,safety, and welfare subject. A few points to keep in mind: please be patient with download times; make sure all the correct answers show before you click the button for a verification page, and print out the verification page for your continuing education records. To reach the course, click on it from the list on the left side of your screen.